Foxtel commissions The Real Housewives of Australia

Foxtel has announced that it has commissioned reality series The Real Housewives Of Australia.

The Arena series will be among the first in the Real Housewives franchise outside of the US, where series have included The Real Housewives of Orange County, New York City, Atlanta, New Jersey, Beverly Hills and Miami. There ave also been Athens and Israel versions.

The Orange County series is now in its eighth season.

The show will be made by Matchbox Pictures with casting to begin soon.

The announcement:

Privilege & extravagance get a new name;

The Real Housewives of Australia

Foxtel’s newest local commission for 2013

The “Real Housewives” phenomena arrives down under with Foxtel today announcing the commission of The Real Housewives of Australia, to air in 2013 on one of the country’s premium general entertainment channels, Arena.

This entertaining 10 x one hour docu-drama provides an insider view of the lifestyles of the wealthy and pampered women found in the chicest parts of cities all over the world. A revealing insight into the real world of Australia’s Real Housewives.

Produced by Matchbox Pictures, The Real Housewives of Australia is the first Australian instalment of the world’s number one lifestyle reality franchise.

The show will take viewers on a wild ride into the extravagant lives of five of Australia’s most privileged, powerful and glamorous women. The series will introduce us to an elite group of women and reveal intimate and often outrageous details about their relationships, career triumphs, pitfalls and family drama.

Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh said “The ‘Real Housewives’ franchise has enthralled, bemused and dazzled millions internationally and we are thrilled to be commissioning a local version to air on Arena in 2013.

“The Real Housewives of Australia will tap into the qualities and idiosyncrasies that are uniquely Australian whilst embracing all the drama, antics and extravagance we have come to love when observing these pampered wives of the uber riche.

“This latest local commission further solidifies Foxtel’s continued dedication to delivering must see, big entertainment and compelling storytelling to Australian audiences and is just one of the many announcments we plan to make in the coming months.”

Chris Oliver-Taylor, Managing Director Matchbox Pictures says “Matchbox Pictures is delighted to be working with Foxtel to deliver an Australian version of one of the biggest and most talked about TV franchises in the world.

“The Real Housewives of Australia is sure to be compelling viewing and we are looking forward to unearthing the very best local examples of this next set of housewives, bringing to the Foxtel audience all of the drama, glamour and wholly entertaining storytelling, that the worldwide series has brought to international audiences.”

Matchbox Pictures commences casting across the country in the coming weeks.